Frown lines

Frown lines — glabellar lines in medical terms — run vertically between the eyebrows. Some people have a single line, others two parallel folds, others again a short, deep dimple. Three muscles are chiefly responsible: the corrugator supercilii, which draws the brows together, the depressor supercilii, and the procerus, which pulls the root of the nose downwards.

These muscles are involved in almost any task requiring concentration — reading, screen work, bright light, physical effort. Over years the skin above them folds in the same place again and again. At first only in movement, later also at rest.

Why frown lines are read differently from other lines.

The glabellar region is central to how facial expressions are read. Drawn-together brows signal irritation, scepticism or strain. Patients often report being asked why they look "cross" or "stressed" when they feel perfectly relaxed. That is the most common reason this particular area is treated — not a wish to look younger, but a wish not to be misread.

How the treatment works.

The medication used blocks the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. The nerve keeps sending signals, but for a limited period the muscle can no longer translate them fully into contraction. In the glabellar region this means a few defined points in the corrugator and procerus muscles.

Activity decreases gradually rather than abruptly. First changes appear after about three to seven days, the full picture after roughly two weeks. The body then breaks the substance down and the muscle resumes its function — usually after three to four months.

Side effects — named honestly.

Most common are small bruises at the injection points and a temporary sense of pressure or heaviness in the forehead over the first few days. Headaches occur. Less common but relevant: a drooping upper lid (ptosis) or an uneven brow position, if the substance spreads beyond the target muscles. Both are temporary but can last several weeks. A residual risk cannot be excluded entirely; it can be reduced through conservative dosing and correct injection depth.

When treatment is not the right answer.

If the line stays just as deep with the forehead fully relaxed, it is largely static. The cause then lies in the connective tissue and skin quality, no longer in muscle activity alone. Treatment can slow further deepening but will only partly smooth the existing line. Other methods make more sense at that point, possibly in combination. We test this against your facial movement in the consultation, not against your age.